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December 24, 2005
Merry Christmas
Tonight is Christmas Eve and I have just returned home from the farm where my family has our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. When I say traditional I mean the Christmas caroling and enormous amounts of food. I mean everyone gathers together and exchanges gifts and it really is a large affair. There is usually a badly acted out rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas and the kids pass out the presents we play Dirty Santa with. I had never thought that it was some kind of anachronism for how things “use to be”. We have always all come together and we have always been fortunate enough to be able to share our celebration with others who might not have family around anymore or may not be able to get to their family for Christmas. It is simply how it has always been. Growing up it was so corny in my self-centered world and most of my friends didn’t do it this way. I didn’t understand why these other people were there and not with their own family. Tonight I appreciate it all and was able to share it with my friend Doug whose mom won’t be in town until Monday.
I left the farm tonight with a two-pound bucket of mixed nuts and a reinforced appreciation for family. And most of all I never thought how fortunate I have been to not have to question the celebration as I have been blessed with a great family - the greatest gift imaginable.
For all my kids past and present I hope these holidays are a blessing for you and your family. Take a little time to reflect a little deeper than the presents you are opening and focus on the gifts that have been bestowed upon you by the Maker and know that you and your family are in my prayers.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by hlperson at 10:19 PM | Comments (2)
December 05, 2005
Progress Reports and a Hectic Week
Progress Reports went home today so make sure you see those. If the students return them tomorrow they receive a 100 as a homework grade. With the amount of absences we have had recently many of the grades are not as high as they should be. They know they can make up missing work and turn it in.
The last week has been hectic to say the least. We are in the middle of testing our eighth graders on their technology skills and are only able to test ten at a time. Ms. Worrells is testing every morning, Mrs. Sauls every day during lunch and I am every afternoon. So we are actually able to move a class a day through the labs. That doesn’t sound that difficult except it moves our PLATO class out of their room. It means ten students every morning must get off the bus and eat breakfast early so they can test. Ten others go to lunch with the seventh graders every day and find somewhere to sit so they can test during their lunch block. The sixth grade teachers have had to cover my social studies classes so I can test. And my kids have had to develop a lot of independence in their work habits. But the reviews have been glowing! Thanks to Mrs. Munoz’s organizational talents we are making our way through the process.
The most difficult part is that the rest of the computers on campus can not be on. That means no AR testing, no Accelerated Math, no PLATO, no email, no internet – I feel like the Capital One commercial with all the “No’s”. Our teachers and students have been troopers but I know the strain is showing. I myself have been a little testy in class. Friday is our last day of testing so wish us good luck. We have been able to “unleash the hounds” on a couple of afternoons after the kids are finished so that has helped some.
Posted by hlperson at 12:54 PM | Comments (4)